Apparatus for manicuring nails



April 22, 1941. HOLMES 2,239,040

APPARATUS FOR MANICURING NAILS Filed April 27, 1939 INVENTOR. MYRA JHOLMES ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

'Ihis specification comprises a description of my invention inimprovements in apparatus for manicuring nails, and is submitted incompliance with the statutes relative to the granting of Letters Patentof the United States. This application comprises in part a continuationof my copending application Serial No. 253,575, filed January 30, 1939.

In the description, the apparatus will be described generally, and themain respects in which it constitutes improvements over the prior artwill be pointed out. The main objects and features of the invention willbe stated. Following this, the figures of the drawing will be describedgenerally. Then a detailed description of several preferred embodimentsof my invention will be given, and a description of the use of theembodiments will follow. Lastly, a brief description of other modifiedarrangements will be given. The claims will particularly point out myinvention and will follow the specification.

My invention is illustrated and described as comprising a maskfor use asan aid in applying liquid polish, dye or enamel to a finger nail, but itmay be used for other purposes, and especially may be used for similarpurposes in connection with toe nails.

It has become common practice in manicuring nails to stain, paint orpolish the nails with a liquid color, polish or dye. In so painting thenails, it is preferable to leave the lighter moonshaped portionuncolored while coloring only the portion which normally should have apinker tint. It has been found difficult, however, for many people toapply the polish or enamel evenly and to leave the moon-shaped portionuncolored with a clear line of demarcation between the colored anduncolored portions.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide masks of various types tocover the moon-shaped and end portions of nails, while the main portionsof the nails are left uncovered so that polish may be applied thereto.However, so far as I am aware, no one has been able heretofore toproduce a satisfactory mask or stencil, because such a stencil must fitclosely to the nail and prevent streaks of the polish or stain fromcreeping under the mask and thus rendering the unpolished portionunsightly.

I have discovered that by the use of my novel type of stencil formasking the moon-shaped portion of the nail it is possible to stain,polish, or color the main body of the nail easily and quickly, leavingthe moon-shaped portion unstained and providing a clear line ofdemarcation between the stained and unstained portions.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is the provision of a maskcapable of fitting closely to the nail and of masking satisfactorily thelighter or moon-shaped portion of the nail so as to prevent polish ordye from creeping under the mask and so as to provide a clear line ofdemarcation between said lighter portion and the main body of the nail,after polish or dye has been applied.

A further object of my invention is the provision of improved means forhandling or using such nail masks or stencils.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a series of nail masks,each formed of a strip of pliable paper, tape or cellulose materialhaving at least a portion of one side coated with any suitable adhesiveand adapted to be positioned on and to adhere closely to the moon-shapedportion of the nail and a portion of the finger so that nail polish maybe easily applied to the exposed portion of the nail. 1

A further feature of my invention is the arrangement of the masks insuch relation that they may be handled in packs but yet may be easilyseparated and also easily removed from the finger after use.

' A further feature is the arrangement of my masks with perforations sothat they may be easily separated.

A further feature is the arrangement of masks upon rolls so that theymay be convenient for use.

Further objects and features of the invention should be apparent from areading of the subjoined specification and claims, when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fragmentary section of a finger having aportion of the finger and the moon-shaped portion of the nail covered byone of my improved masks constituting my preferred embodiment;

Figure 2 is a view of the same fragmentary section of a finger, in sideelevation;

Figure 3 is a view. in vertical section, taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 1, shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a view, in vertical section, taken substantially as if onthe line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, in vertical section, similar to aportion of Figure 3, but showing a modification; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, showing anothermodification;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a strip of masking tape or paper having asuitable adhesive, the strip forming a series of masks;

Figure 8 is a view, in section, taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFigure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, and illustrates a strip of masksof an alternative shape;

Figure 10 is a view, in perspective, showing a series of masks arrangedon a roll;

Figure 11 is a plan view, and illustrates a strip of masks ofalternative shape;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, and illustrates another shapeof mask;

Figure 13 illustrates another alternative form of mask;

Figure 14 illustrates another alternative shape of mask; and I Figure 15is a View, in section, of a strip of masks of modified form.

Referring especially to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, it may be seen thatI'have shown a portion of a finger I having a nail l2, a portion of thenail and finger being covered by one of my improved masks I3. The maskis formed, as is shown in Figure 3, of an upper layer I4 of pliablepaper or cloth, or of any other pliable material, and a lower adhesivelayer I5. I have found the socalled Scotch tape most suitable, thatmaterial being similar to the material described in'one or more of thefollowing patents: 1,357,020, 1,779,588, 1,856,986, 1,814,132,1,895,978, 1,959,413, 1,954,805, Reissue 18,742 and Reissue 19,128. Atape formed of a Cellophane upper layer and a coating of rubber cementis suitable, inasmuch as the rubber cement does not leave any stickymaterial on the skin or nails and does not leave a tacky surface whenremoved, but nevertheless adheres securely. The mask 13 has arectangular body portion l6 and a moon-shaped extending portion 18. Theinner face of the moon-shaped portion I8 and the adjacent part 19 of thebody portion it are arranged to adhere (by reason of the coating ofrubber cement) to the nail and finger, but the end portion 2! is foldedover so that it does not adhere to the finger and so that it may begrasped to remove the mask from the nail and finger. As may be seen inFigure l, the moonshaped portion it has curved edges both forward andrearward of the finger, so that it may be pressed firmly against thenail and leave exposed for tinting only the portion of the nail desired,entirely masking the moon, and so that the side points of the portion Itmay be pressed securely against the nail and not tend to bulge out byreason of the flesh. Thus, between the portion l8 and the portion It,there are formed indentations such as As may be seen in 'Figures 1 to 3,inclusive, the moon-shaped portion [8 is arranged to cover themoon-shaped portion 28 of the nail I2. In Figures 3 and 4, thethicknesses of the mask, adhesive and polish are exaggerated.

As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, it is essential that the mask l3 bepressed firmly down upon the nail and into the recess between the nailand the cuticle, especially at the angles 22, 24 and 25, and that themask firmly adhere to the nail, especially along the line 28. Theprovision of the notches 5| aids this adherence. It is essential, inorder to prevent seepage of polish under the mask, that material of asatisfactorily pliable nature be used, so that it may be pressed downfirmly into these angles and may b secured mentary views, portions ofmodified forms of masks. Thus, in Figure 5, the upper layer '4 of maskH3 is of pliable paper or cloth and has only a portion of its facecovered with cement N5, the portion IZI being free of cement and thusserving to aid in removing the mask from the finger H0 and in separatingthe masks from each other. The mask 2l3 shown. in Figure 6 has the upperlayer 2M with its lower face completely covered with cement 2l5. Whilethis form is not as satisfactory as the forms shown in Figures 3 and 5,it may be used.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate my preferred method of handling masks, inthat they are arranged in strips, such as the strips 3H3, 320 and 322,secured to each other by their adhesive. Each strip comprises aplurality of masks, such as the masksiZ, 326, 328, 330 and 332. Theindividual masks may be easily detached, being separated by perforations334, and inasmuch as the strips may be separated easily from each otherbecause,

when the folded over end or tab portion 32l is rasped, the mask may bepulled free, the cement adhering to the under side of the mask and laterserving to attach the mask to the fingers The masks shown in Figures 7and 8 are of slightly different shape from the one shown in Figures 1 to4, the indentations 5| being omitted and the tab portion 32| havingbeveled edges. The moon-shaped portion 3H3 has a semi-circular outline335 imprinted thereon so as to aid in positioning, and the portionwithin the outline 336 is colored for the same purpose.

I also prefer to prepare other forms of masks in strips: for instance,the masks 213 shown in Figure '6 are shown in a strip in Figure 9 asmasks 224, 226, 228, 230 and 232. However, the masks could be formedoriginally as single elements, not joined, if desired. As may be seen,these masks are connected, but perforations such as 234 ar provided sothat the separate masks may be easily detached. As may be seen, the

moon-shaped portion 2H3 of the mask 224 is the same size as similarportions of masks 226 and 228, but the similar portion of mask 230 islarger and the similar portion of mask 232 is smaller, masks 23B and 232being formed for the thumb and little finger respectively.

In using my improved masks, I prefer to follow my proved method asfollows. A single mask, for example 324, is detached from the strip orpack and is carefully applied so that the moonshaped portion (H8 of themask coincides with the moon-shaped portion 29 of the nail., The bodyportion 3H5 of the mask is firmly pressed against the upper face of thefinger, care being taken to press the mask into the angles between nailand skin. In doing this, the adhesive on the lower face of the masksecures the mask firmly to the nail and finger except where the fold 32lprevents adhesion. The layer of polish is applied to the exposed portionof the nail, and, as soon as the coloring material is dry, the mask isremoved from the finger and nail. If desired, all of the masks in eachstrip maybe of the same size, or they may each be of a different size.

Preferably the strips and pack of masks are protected by being enclosedin glassine envelopes.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 10, instead of providing masks inrelatively short fiat strips as in Figures 7 and 9 enclosed in envelopesor arranged in a pack of flat strips, I show an arrangement in which themasks are formed in strips M9 of extensive length, which are formed intorolls, a strip of separating tape 442 being arranged between alternatstrips of masks, so that the mask strip may be easily removed and sothat the separate masks may be taken ofi. easily and without damage tothem.

In Figure 11, I have shown other modified forms of masks 524, 526, 528,530 and 532 arranged in a strip 519. These masks may be detached alongperforations 534. In Figure 12, I have similarly shown masks 624, 625,628, 530 and 832 connected as at 635.

In Figures 13 and 14, I have shown masks 124 and 824 of slightlydifferent shape, each having a portion such as 121 and EH formed withoutadhesive.

In Figure 15, I have shown a cross-section of a mask 824 having aportion 82lfolded over, so that two adhesive faces are pressed together,and having a portion 821a formed without any adhesive. The masks of theform shown in Figures 5, 13 and 1e could be arranged on rolls such asthat shown in Figure 10 without the separating a tape 442, but the formshown in Figure 15 provided with separating tape 852 is preferred foruse in rolls.

It is to be understood that the masks may be provided originally asseparate masks, or they may be provided in strips, each mask of which isof a different size from the other masks, or any number of masks of thesame size may be provided in the strip or in combination with masks ofdifferent sizes, or the masks may be provided in packs, as described.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments of myinvention are for the purpose of illustration only, and various changesmay be 2. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to fingeror toe nails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantiallyrectangular or circular body portion and an extending moonshaped portionand having an adhesive on at least a portion of one face and havingindentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

3. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toenails comprising a pliable element provided With a body portion andextending portion, having adhesive on at least a portion of one face,and having indentations separating the body portion and the extendingportion.

4. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toenails comprising a pliable element provided with a body portion and anextending moon-shaped portion and having indentations separating thebody portion and the extending portion.

5. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toenails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantiallyrectangular body portion and an extending moon-shaped portion and havingindentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

6. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toenails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantiallyrectangular or circular body portion and an extending moonshaped portionand having indentations separating the body portion and the extendingportion.

MYRA J. HOLMES.

